As Miami-Dade grapples with a new COVID-19 surge — and children aged 5 to 17 account for 15% of new infections — kids 12 and over can get a vaccine Friday, along with book bags and other school supplies, at a back-to-school book bag giveaway hosted by Miami-Dade Commissioner Kionne McGhee.
As far as Ladra can tell, he is the first county commissioner to offer COVID vaccines at a back-to-school event in a community that has become polarized over whether students should be mandated to wear masks. But McGhee told Ladra that any Miami-Dade student that shows up will get a shot, while supplies last.
Routine child immunizations will also be offered, as well as haircuts and free dental checks, at the event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Richmond Heights Park, 14450 Boggs Drive.
There will be music, games, bounce houses and free food, as well and some school uniforms, while supplies last.
Know more: Kionne McGhee turns district office into COVID-19 vaccine registration center
“We gotta do something. Covid is out of control,” said McGhee, who turned his office into a vaccine registration center in January. He said people in his district are recently more inclined to get the vaccine.
Vaccinations have gone up nationwide since the new surge of COVID-19 cases started to rise dramatically. As of Thursday, Miami-Dade’s 7-day average positivity rate was 13.68 percent. That means that at least 13 people out of every 100 who are tested come back with positive results.
Of more concern to parents and educators, more than 15% of those who tested positive on Wednesday were children age 5 to 17.
According to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard, 1,497 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID and 93% of patients admitted on Wednesday were unvaccinated.
“I have been asking people to take the shot, to realize that this is serious, so a lot of people are adhering to my call,” McGhee said.
Miami-Dade’s Kionne McGhee offers back-to-school COVID shot w/ supplies added by Ladra on
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